[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 141 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    HONORING EAST SIDE PEACE ACTION

                                 ______


                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 1994

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues the great achievements of the East Side, NY Peace Action 
Committee, an outstanding organization in my district which has worked 
for 36 years on world peace and nuclear disarmament issues.
  The East Side Peace Action Committee originated as part of the 
Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy in 1958, at a time when Americans 
first felt fear over the threat of nuclear war. Early on, the members 
of the East Side chapter recognized the dangers of stockpiling nuclear 
weapons of mass destruction and banded together to work on ending MAD--
mutually assured destruction as a national defense strategy. 
Participants have included such luminaries as Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. 
Benjamin Spock, Senator Wayne Morse, and many others. It was only 
decades later that the East Side chapter saw the fruit of their 
efforts, an end to the immanent threat of nuclear annihilation.
  However, the one man most responsible for the success and efforts of 
the East Side Chapter is Mr. Alex Smith, a long time resident of the 
14th congressional district. Alex Smith has headed the East Side 
Chapter and served our community since 1958. He is a remarkable leader 
and organizer and has received widespread recognition for his work on 
peace issues and for the eradication of nuclear weapons. His labor and 
struggle has truly made our world a little safer especially now that 
the chance of having nuclear war has greatly diminished.
  The East Side Peace Action Committee is continuing its legacy by 
taking the lead in nuclear disarmament. With 500 local supporters, they 
have helped push for a worldwide comprehensive test ban treaty. This 
treaty would include China, the only nation actively testing nuclear 
devices. The committee was also helpful in finally convincing President 
Bill Clinton to order a moratorium on nuclear testing, and hopefully, 
by the 50th anniversary of the United Nations in 1995, the United 
States will support a world ban on all nuclear testing.
  The organization is also interested in reorienting our Federal 
spendingpriorities from defense toward addressing today's difficult 
domestic problems. I join with the East Side Peace Action Committee in 
support of reinvesting in our children and our communities. The ``peace 
dividend'' that we worked so hard to obtain is desperately needed for 
improved education for our children, increased job training for our 
workers, sufficient health care for our sick, improved infrastructure 
for our communities, and greater protection for our environment.
  Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, Air Force Gen. Charles Horner, the 
man responsible for defending the U.S. from nuclear attack, stated that 
the country should destroy its nuclear weapons. In his own words, 
General Horner said, ``the nuclear weapon is obsolete,'' and ``I want 
to get rid of them all.'' I hope the day will come when we do not have 
any more nuclear weapons, and I hope my colleagues will join me in 
honoring the East Side Peace Action Committee, and their noble efforts 
toward world peace.

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